QUOTE (spridget @ May 29 2010, 08:35 PM)
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QUOTE (Brian_05_SEL @ May 29 2010, 04:19 PM)
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QUOTE (Taurus3254JA @ May 29 2010, 01:03 PM)
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What Ford needs to do is is give Mercury it's own identity, not just rebadged Fords. Like they did with the new Taurus, there is no Mercury counterpart. They need to come out with a line of Mercury vehicles with legendary Mercury nameplates, and offer more of a variety with a new flagship sedan, as foreign auto makers such as Nissan offer with their Altima. You have a choice of a sedan or a sporty coupe. Bring back the Cougar as a new flagship sedan and offer a sporty coupe similar to the last generation of the Cougar. If it's worked for them, why can't it work for Detroit![/b]
Well, because a lot of buyers still seem to apply a double-standard when looking at 'Detroit 3' cars... Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury could never all work under the same portfolio in many people's minds, yet ToMoCo has three brands (Toyota, Lexus, Scion...WTF has that one accomplished?), and nobody says boo. Nissan has way too much diversification on their G35-based platform, but Ford's D4 chassis is too widely used and is terrible for a CUV Explorer (Murano, FX, G35, 370Z... you probably get the picture). Infiniti has a frickin' hideous lineup these days (Seen the new QX yet?

), but the new 'bow-wave grille' Lincolns are all ugly, scary whale-things.
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If Ford wanted to keep Mercury, they should have continued to push imported Fords through the brand to create a separate identity for Mercury. But Ford didn't, and the brand is meaningless to buyers.
Lincoln should move more upmarket to keep on par with Lexus, Mercedes, BMW.
And BTW - those "ugly, scary whale-thing" MKTs are selling like hot cakes where I live. I thought the styling was too controversial to be effective, but I see them everywhere. More popular than the MKS.
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I'll admit they aren't my single most favorite vehicle, but I would totally drive one. At first I didn't like it (but not enough to call it obscene names) but it's grown on me. They're almost as popular as the Flex around me.
And they're amazing inside. They have loads of wonderful features too. But that's not what this thread is about.
I'll miss Mercury definitely, but I don't think it will be a total loss. I mean look at the numbers, it will for sure put Ford in a better position.